Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Monday, January 21, 2008
Anfield
Tuesday 22 January 2008
3.55am (SG, GMT+8)
Channel 27 (Football Channel)
Liverpool's Line-Up (Probable):
25 Jose Manuel Reina
23 Jamie Carragher __ 37 Martin Skrtel
17 Alvaro Arbeloa ______________________________________ 6 John Arne Riise
8 Steven Gerrard (C)____ 20 Javier Mascherano
16 Jermaine Pennant ______________________________________ 11 Yossi Benayoun
15 Peter Crouch ______ 9 Fernando Torres
Substitutes (Probable):
30 Charles Itandje
_ 4 Sami Hyypia
_ 14 Xabi Alonso
_ 19 Ryan Babel
_ 18 Dirk Kuyt
So it's another home game for Liverpool, good or bad? It's really up to you to decide. For those who said good, probably you just thought playing at home, with the crowd behind you, is
kinda good. I can't blame you, but those who said bad, I see what you are getting at, too many draws has decided the course of Liverpool's campaign so far. Last couple of years, it was the away form, now its at home. And of course, now it's high-flying Aston Villa. Liverpool really need a win to lift the morale and get the three valuable points in their impossible task of getting back into the title race.
Jose Reina will almost definitely start in goal. Alvaro Arbeloa and John Arne Riise should get the starts on at full back, as the pace of the likes of Luke Moore and Gabriel Agbonlahor might be too tough a task for the likes of Fabio Aurelio and Steve Finnan to keep up with. Jamie Carragher and new signing Martin Skrtel, who might get his first start, might start together for the first time, and will have the shared responsibility of marshaling John Carew out of the game, which is quite impossible.
Skipper Steven Gerrard is almost certain to start in the centre of midfield. Javier Mascherano or Xabi Alonso will fight it out for the second midfield spot, with Mascherano likely to come out as Rafa Benitez's choice due to his more defensive nature. Jermaine Pennant should get a start on the right, with Yossi Benayoun on the left, both providing, hopefully, sufficient width for Liverpool.
Fernando Torres is another almost certain starter. But whose up with him? I hope it's Peter Crouch. One reason is because he wins 90% of the high punts from the Liverpool backline, another is because he has great ball control, thirdly he looks more capable of supplying Torres with flick-ons or scoring a header, and lastly, he just looks better than Andriy Voronin. One more thing, with Pennant being Liverpool's best winger at crossing, and should he play, shouldn't Crouch get a chance to benefit from it?
Dirk Kuyt should take his place on the bench ahead of Voronin. Ryan Babel could come on should more attacking flair be necessary. Xabi Alonso's passing ability will come in good if Aston Villa's defence proves to tight to penetrate, or come in as an extra midfielder allowing Gerrard to bomb forward. Sami Hyypia should just be emergency really, so to Charles Itandje.
So
c'mon Liverpool, try to be positive, play some no-fear football, and try to go on a run winning games, for morale, and for the build-up of the much awaited Champions League knockout stage.
Bye~!
my thoughts at 4:59 pm